Thirty-seven people in Arkansas have died of the flu, the Arkansas Department of Health announced Tuesday.
There have been 29 deaths in people over 65 years old, six in people 45 to 64 and two in people 25 to 44 so far this season, Arkansas Department of Health spokesman Kerry Krell said.
There has been widespread flu activity, according to the weekly Department of Health influenza report, and Krell said the best way to prevent the flu is still by getting a flu shot.
The flu shot this year does not cover the most active influenza strain, but Krell said the shot will lessen the length and symptoms of the illness.
The Department of Health tracks the flu for a calendar year starting on Sept. 28, as well as tracking trends from September through March.
Since Sept. 28, over 21,600 positive flu tests have been reported in Arkansas and 1,700 of those were reported last week, according to the report.
Emergency room visits for the flu dropped slightly from 2,598 the last week in January to 2,203 the first week in February, the report states.